If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia in the near future, you may want to exchange some of your money into rupiah, the country’s official currency. The international symbol for the currency is IDR.

If you’re entering Indonesia with more than 100 million IDR (roughly $6,500 USD), you’ll have to declare the currency.

This post has everything you need to know about converting USD to IDR, including where to secure the best exchange rates and how to avoid paying high fees on your conversion.

How to Convert USD to IDR

Calculating a conversion from dollars to rupiah is fairly simple. You can either use a currency calculator or do it by hand.

1. Use a Currency Calculator

Using a currency conversion calculator is often the easiest way to get an estimate when you’re converting currency. Since exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis, using a calculator can ensure your math is correct.

Keep in mind that exchanging currency often comes with added fees that a conversion calculator won’t be able to predict. For instance, credit card companies and ATM networks usually charge a 1% conversion fee on all foreign transactions. Individual merchants may also charge supplemental fees if you ask them to convert the price of an item to your home currency at checkout.

2. Calculate it Manually

The other option is to do the calculation manually using a simple mathematical formula. However, in order to do this, you need to know the current exchange rate. At the time of writing, $1 USD is worth Rp 15,562 IDR.

Once you know that information, multiply the amount you have in USD by the current exchange rate. The resulting number will show you the amount of rupiah that you have to spend on your trip.

Manual Currency Conversion Example

Let’s say you have $1,200 USD and would like to figure out how much rupiah you have for a trip to Indonesia. Using the current exchange rate, the formula for your conversion would look like this:

$1,200 USD x 15,562 = Rp 18,674,400 IDR

How to Buy IDR

When you’re ready to buy IDR, it’s a good idea to plan ahead to ensure that you pay the fewest fees. Here are three ways to get the currency you need while minimizing the fees you’ll be charged:

• Exchange at a bank or credit union before your trip: Heading to your bank before your trip is often the most cost-effective way to exchange currency. Since you have an existing relationship with them, your bank is likely to give you the best exchange rates and charge the lowest fees. For example, Bank of America doesn’t charge its account holders an exchange fee. However, it does charge a shipping fee of $7.50 USD on orders worth less than $1,000.

• Use your bank abroad where possible: If you need to exchange more money while you’re on your trip, try to find a branch of your bank, or a secure, in-network ATM. For example, Citibank and HSBC both have branches and ATMs located throughout Indonesia. Most banking apps have a “locator” feature to help you find the closest option, and visiting a branch affiliated with your bank can help you avoid excess fees. Bear in mind that remote parts of Indonesia may not have ATMs at all and you should carry cash.

• Order currency online: If your bank doesn’t offer online shipping, you can also use a third party to get currency delivered to your door. However, be aware of inflated costs with some of these vendors. Currency Exchange International (CXI), for instance, advertises that it does not charge an exchange fee for home deliveries. However, you’ll pay up to $30 for overnight shipping on transactions under $1,000 USD.

What to Avoid When Exchanging Currency

• Exchanging currency at the airport: While exchanging currency at the airport is unquestionably convenient, airport exchanges often offer some of the worst rates while charging some of the highest fees.
• Withdrawing money at an ATM or kiosk: Stand-alone currency exchange kiosks can give you access to cash while on the go, but it’s best to avoid them in Indonesia. If you do need quick cash, stick to secure ATMs in well-trafficked areas. You may also pay a premium to use one of these convenient locations.

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